Carrying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A carrying apparatus is provided which may be supported on the shoulder of the user or, in the alternative, carried like conventional luggage. The carrying apparatus has forward and rearward load storing compartments coupled together by a tapered support band. When placed on the shoulder of the user, the forward and rearward load storing compartments are positioned anterior and posterior to the user&#39;s body, respectively. The support band is defined by a pair of non-parallel opposed edges that are adapted to center the compartments along the axis of the user&#39;s body. When carried upon the user&#39;s shoulder, the support band allows the load storing compartments to be substantially bisected by the coronal plane of the user&#39;s body and allows the user to maintain his or her posture without deviation from the neutral coronal plane or rotation on the horizontal axis. To allow the present invention to be carried in the form of luggage, the forward and rearward load storing compartments are provided with gripping members at opposed ends of the support band.

This is a continuation-in-part application of my copending applicationSer. No. 10/866,546 filed Jun. 14, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to apparatus used for carryingarticles and more particularly to a carrying apparatus which can besupported alternatively on the shoulder of a user or as conventionalluggage.

2. Prior Art

The prior art discloses numerous designs for load carrying apparatus.These include carrying apparatus where the load is supported by the backof the user, devices which are supported on the shoulder of the user andthose which employ grips for support by the user's hand. All havestructural inadequacies which are resolved by the present invention.

The prior art discloses numerous forms of carrying apparatus. An exampleis one generally in the form of a backpack. A backpack comprises one ormore load bearing compartments which are supported by a pair of strapsadapted to be mounted upon the shoulders of the user. When mounted, thefull load stored in the backpack compartment lies adjacent the posteriorof the user's body. In carrying apparatus designed in the form ofbackpacks, the user will be forced to alter his or her posture from thecoronal plane in order to counteract the force imposed by the weight ofthe band along the posterior of the user's body. The present inventionresolves this problem by creating a carrying apparatus which providesmeans for carrying equal loads along the anterior and posterior of theuser's body while maintaining a neutral center of gravity relative tothe coronal plane of the user's body.

The prior art discloses designs for carrying apparatus which employcompartments for supporting dual loads adjacent the front and rear ofthe user's body. However, these designs fail to provide a neutral centerof gravity and are restricted solely to the single manner of use. Thepresent invention resolves this problem by adjusting the couplingbetween the loads and affixing joinable gripping members at the upperend of each load bearing compartment on opposing ends of the couplingwhich joins the two compartments together. When the gripping members areplaced adjacent one another, the present invention permits the loadbearing compartments to be supported in the manner of a conventionalbriefcase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a load bearing carrying apparatus whichcan alternatively be carried by a user on his or her shoulders or as aconventional piece of luggage or a briefcase. The present inventioncomprises a pair of load supporting compartments coupled together by asupport band. The support band is defined by a pair of opposing innerand outer edges which are obliquely oriented with respect to oneanother. The support band allows the present invention to be supportedon either shoulder of the user. When mounted on the user's shoulder, theload supporting compartments are disposed adjacent the anterior andposterior of the user's body. Most importantly, the load is distributedapproximately equidistant on either side of the mid coronal plane of theuser.

In addition to being supported on the user's shoulder, the presentinvention carrying apparatus can be supported in a manner similar toconventional luggage or a briefcase. A pair of joinable gripping membersare respectively secured to the upper edge of each load supportingcompartment at their respective interface with the support band. Whenthe support band is positioned between the compartments, the matinggripping members can be coupled to one another in a manner which permitsthe present invention to be held or otherwise supported by a hand of theuser.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved carryingapparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a carryingapparatus which can be supported without requiring the user's posture todeviate from the neutral coronal plane.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved carrying apparatus which provides a neutral center of gravity.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide animproved carrying apparatus that is simple and inexpensive to fabricate.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention, both as to its organization and method of operation, togetherwith further objectives and advantages thereof, will be betterunderstood from the following description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustrationand description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limitsof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention carryingapparatus being supported on the shoulder of a user.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the present invention carrying apparatus shownin FIG. 1 illustrating-the load supporting compartments and supportband.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the present invention carrying apparatusillustrating the load supporting -compartment in the shoulder mountedposition.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the present invention illustrating theload supporting compartments in the shoulder-mounted position.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the present invention carryingapparatus illustrating the load supporting compartments in theshoulder-mounted position.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view illustrating the present inventioncarrying apparatus mounted at the anterior of the user's body.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the present invention folded into thehand-supported position.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention illustrating the load supporting compartments and analternative construction for the support band.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An understanding of the present invention carrying apparatus 10 can beseen by reference to FIGS. 1-7, inclusive, wherein the present inventioncarrying apparatus 10 is illustrated. As stated hereinabove, the presentinvention carrying apparatus 10 is adapted to be supported upon ashoulder of the user or, as an alternative, can be carried in the mannerof a conventional briefcase or luggage. As can be seen in FIG. 1,carrying apparatus 10 is supported on the right shoulder of a user.Carrying apparatus 10 comprises a pair of load supporting compartments11 and 12. When supported on the right shoulder of the user, loadsupporting compartments 11 and 12 are disposed adjacent the anterior andposterior of the user's body 13. As will be explained hereinbelow, ifsupported on the opposing shoulder of the user, load supportingcompartment 11 would be positioned adjacent the back of the user andload supporting compartment 12 disposed adjacent the chest of the user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carrying apparatuswhich has a neutral center of gravity relative to the posture of theuser. As shown in FIGS. 1-7, storage member 11 includes an enclosuremember 14 into which articles can be placed through entry 15 and aclosing flap 16 for covering entry 15. Flap 16 may be secured toenclosure member 14 through conventional locking means 17 a and 17 b. Ina similar manner, compartment 12 comprises enclosure member 18 includingentry 19 through which articles can be placed. Flap 20 closes entry 19and can be secured to pocket 18 by conventional locking means 21 a and21 b.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an improvedcarrying apparatus 10 which, when being carried on the shoulder of auser, allows the user's posture to be unaltered in the sagittal plane.In the preferred embodiment, load supporting compartments 11 and 12 areshown to be of equal size and to possess the same accessories (e.g.,auxiliary pockets, zippers, etc.). However, it is understood by thosehaving skill in the art that load supporting compartments 11 and I2 canbe implemented through any-other conventional designs used for handbags,saddle bags, backpacks and the like.

As can be seen best in FIG. 2, load supporting compartments 11 and 12are secured to one another by a supporting strap 30. Supporting strap 30has a substantially linear outer edge 31 and a substantially uniformarcuate inner edge 32. The minimum distance between outer edge 21 andinner edge 32 is substantially equidistant between supportingcompartments 11 and 12. Although the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention illustrates supporting strap 30 to be integral with thesupporting compartments 11 and 12, it is understood supporting band 30can be non-integral with but secured to the upper terminus of supportingcompartments 11 and 12, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 6, the arcuate profile of inner edge 32 of support band30 allows the present invention carrying apparatus 10 to have a neutralcenter of gravity when mounted on the user's shoulder. Arcuate edge 32positions load supporting compartments 11 and 12 along the anterior andposterior of the user's body in a manner which is substantially bisectedby the vertical axis 33 of the user. This will allow the user's postureto be laterally unaltered when supporting carrying apparatus 10 upon hisor her shoulders.

As stated hereinabove, it is a primary objective of the presentinvention to allow the present apparatus 10 to be supported in the samemanner as conventional luggage or a briefcase. To meet this objective, apair of engageable handles 35 and 36 are secured to the upper terminusof load supporting compartments 11 and 12, respectively. To support thepresent invention carrying apparatus 10 by handles 35 and 36, supportstrap 30 is urged in the direction indicated by reference numeral 37(FIG. 7) until it is disposed between supporting compartments 11 and 12.In the preferred embodiment, a pair of engageable locking members 38 and39 are secured to flap 16 on opposing sides of handle 35 of load storingcompartment 11. In a like manner, mating locking members 40 and 41 aresecured to the upper terminus of flap 20 of load supporting compartment12. As can be seen in FIG. 7, when support band 30 is disposed betweensupporting compartments 11 and 12 and locking members 38 and 40 arecoupled to one another, handles 35 and 36 can be used to fully supportcarrying apparatus 10. Although the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention employs two sets of engageable locking members 38, 39, 40 and41, it is understood the scope of the present invention contemplates theuse of a single pair of engageable locking members or forms of handles35 and 36 which can be engaged to one another.

An understanding of an alternative embodiment of the present inventioncan be best gained by reference to FIG. 8. As stated, it is an objectiveof the present invention to provide a carrying apparatus which can besupported without requiring the user's posture to deviate from theneutral coronal plane. It is a further objective of the presentinvention to distribute loads broadly across the user's shoulder andthereby allow the user to support the load in as comfortable position aspossible.

The description of load storing compartments 11 and 12 and the referencenumerals relating thereto are identical to those used to describe andillustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In thealternative embodiment of the present invention, support band 50 issecured between the upper edges 51 and 52 of load storing compartments11 and 12 respectively.

The alternative embodiment of the present invention is intended to allowload supporting compartments 11 and 12 to be deflected from a verticalorientation when being unloaded and to be positioned along a verticalaxis 33 (see FIG. 6) when loaded. This will thereby transfer the weightacross the user's shoulder as opposed to having the load imposed forcesolely along one edge.

As shown in FIG. 8, the outer edge 56 of support band 20 comprises apair of linear segments 53 a and 53 b that are obliquely oriented withrespect to one another and intersect substantially intermediate edges 51and 52 of load storing compartments 11 and 12. The edge 57 of supportband 50 in opposition to edge 56 is comprised of a pair of arcuate outersegments 54 a and 54 b that are contiguous with center segment 55therebetween. Center segment 55 lies substantially intermediate edges 51and 52 of load supporting compartments 11 and 12 and is deflectiveoutwardly in opposition to the profile of arcuate segments 54 a and 54b. It is understood that center segment 55 may be implemented throughthe use of a pair of intersecting linear segments that extend outwardlyin opposition to the profile of arcuate segments 54 a and 54 b.

When the alternative embodiment of the present invention is supportedupon the shoulder of the user, the load will be supported across thefull width of support band 50 at center segment 55. The result of thealternative embodiment of the present invention will be to allow theuser to support a load in an easier manner.

1. An improved carrying apparatus comprising: (a) first and second load storing enclosure means for supporting articles; (b) a support band having first and second ends and a substantially arcuate inner edge and a substantially linear outer edge extending between said first and second ends, said first and second ends being secured to said first and second load supporting enclosure means respectively; and (c) engageable gripping means for supporting the carrying apparatus, said first and second engageable gripping means secured to said first and second load supporting enclosure means adjacent the first and second ends of said support band, respectively.
 2. A carrying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the minimum distance between the inner and outer edges of the support band is substantially equidistant between the first and second ends thereof.
 3. A carrying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said load supporting enclosure means each comprise an enclosure having an outer and inner wall defining an entry thereto, a flap secured to the inner wall and locking means for coupling the flap to said front wall.
 4. A carrying apparatus as defined in claim 1 including coupling means for securing the flaps of said load supporting enclosure means to one another.
 5. An improved carrying apparatus comprising: (a) first and second load storing enclosures each having an outer and an inner wall defining an entry thereto, a flap secured to the inner wall and locking means for coupling the flap to said front wall. (b) a support band having first and second ends and a substantially arcuate inner edge and a substantially linear outer edge extending between said first and second ends, said first and second ends being secured to said first and second load supporting enclosures, the minimum distance between the inner and outer edges of the support band being substantially equidistant between the first and second ends thereof, respectively; and (c) engageable gripping means for supporting the carrying apparatus, said first and second engageable gripping means secured to said first and second load supporting enclosure means adjacent the first and second ends of said support band, respectively.
 6. A carrying apparatus as defined in claim 5 including coupling means for securing the flaps of said load supporting enclosures to one another.
 7. An improved carrying apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said linear outer edge comprises first and second linear edges intersecting substantially intermediate between the first and second load storing enclosure means and said substantially arcuate inner edge includes a concave edge deflected in opposition to the intersection of the first and second segments of said linear outer edge. 